I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

After Naruto's back disappeared from view, Hyūga Tokuma glanced at his young lady and couldn't help but sigh internally.

As someone who had experienced the rigid traditions of the Hyūga clan firsthand, he knew that Lady Hinata had developed feelings for the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, Naruto Uzumaki. However, Naruto's identity was sensitive—he was the village's most valuable jinchūriki, a political asset bound to be a subject of contention among Konoha's power factions.

Hinata was expected to inherit leadership of the Hyūga clan, making any relationship with a jinchūriki fraught with complications. The Main Family's strict hierarchy and duty to preserve the Byakugan bloodline would make such a bond difficult.

Still, the Hyūga Clan Head, Hiashi-sama, had likely been aware of this for some time. His silence could be considered tacit approval, or at least an unwillingness to interfere. As a member of the Branch Family, Tokuma knew it was not his place to question the will of the Main House. His duty was to observe, protect, and serve.

Yet, watching Hinata's expression brighten with determination, he couldn't help but think of the struggles ahead.

Soft-hearted girls often endured the most pain.

At that moment, Hinata looked up at Tokuma and declared, "Uncle Tokuma, we should head back. I haven't started training yet today. I want to master the Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms soon, so I can finally defeat my second brother, Neji."

Tokuma didn't argue. He simply nodded and silently followed her orders.

---

On his way back, Naruto strolled casually through the bustling Konoha market. He was used to the wary stares, the quiet hostility that never truly disappeared. The familiar malice in the air made him smirk—it was the same old Konoha. If the villagers suddenly started treating him kindly, he'd wonder if he'd wandered into the wrong village.

Of course, they were getting smarter. They no longer insulted him outright but whispered behind his back, thinking he wouldn't hear them.

Demon fox… Parentless freak… A monster pretending to be human…

Their words carried, but Naruto wasn't the same powerless kid anymore. His sensory abilities had sharpened, and he caught their muttered slurs with ease. If he were still the clueless orphan he once was, he might not have noticed at all.

However, the presence of Konoha's Military Police Force—Uchiha officers patrolling the streets—kept the villagers in check. The guards' strict enforcement had created growing tension between the Uchiha and the rest of the village.

A group of Uchiha officers spotted Naruto in the distance. One frowned, whispering to his comrades as if planning to confront him.

But in the end, the squad leader raised a hand, silently signaling them to back off.

Naruto recognized him immediately. The leader may have concealed his identity well, but there was no mistaking the presence of Shisui Uchiha. It seemed that after vanishing from the public eye, Shisui had managed to infiltrate Uchiha's inner circles once again—this time, even rising to the rank of a police captain under a false identity.

After leaving the marketplace, one of the guards couldn't help but ask Shisui, "Why don't we use Genjutsu to control the jinchūriki in advance? If we had his cooperation, the escape plan would be much smoother."

Shisui gave his comrade a sharp glance. "That would only increase the risk of exposure. And do you really think a jinchūriki is that easy to manipulate? He's under constant surveillance by an entire Anbu squad—Hokage himself might be watching him right now."

After a brief pause, Shisui changed the subject. "How are the funds? Once we leave the village, we'll lose access to most of our resources."

The guard scratched his head. "The coup d'état faction has been keeping a close watch on us. We can't move large amounts of money without raising suspicion. When do you plan to execute the escape?"

Shisui sighed. "We wait for the night Uchiha Fugaku launches the coup. But before that, we ensure the safe extraction of the child. Whether the coup succeeds or fails, we must secure a future for our clan."

The guard exhaled heavily. "If only you were our clan head, Shisui… Fugaku is too rigid for this."

Shisui chuckled wryly. "I'm just a failure. I lost the right to influence the clan's future long ago. But when the time comes, I'll act—if it means life or death."

Naruto remained unaware of their conversation. By then, he had already returned home.

Standing at his doorstep was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, holding a few scrolls. His wrinkled face carried the usual grandfatherly smile.

"Naruto," he greeted warmly. "I heard you ranked first in your exams. These are your rewards—some new ninjutsu scrolls, along with your living expenses."

Naruto accepted them without hesitation. Ninjutsu and money were always welcome, but his expression remained indifferent toward the elderly Hokage.

"It wasn't difficult to rank first. My classmates are just lazy," Naruto remarked casually. "If they trained more than fourteen hours a day like I do, they'd be able to keep up."

The Third Hokage chuckled, recognizing the underlying frustration in Naruto's words. He wasn't fooled—Naruto was deliberately exaggerating, venting his irritation.

In truth, most students at the Academy struggled to maintain even two hours of daily training. Bonds with peers were just as important as individual strength. True shinobi didn't need to push themselves so hard until their teenage years or adulthood.

Glancing toward the kitchen, Hiruzen attempted to change the topic. "You didn't cook dinner today? That's unfortunate—I was looking forward to a meal. You're quite the skilled chef, much better than my youngest son."

Naruto gave him a skeptical look. "Grandpa Hokage, is your son giving you trouble?"

Hiruzen shook his head. "Not trouble, exactly. He simply disagreed with my decisions and left Konoha to serve the Daimyō as a ninja. He hasn't returned in years."

Naruto tilted his head. "What about your eldest son?"

The old Hokage's face darkened slightly. "He died in the line of duty. His name is inscribed on the memorial stone, along with his wife's. Only a few still remember them."

Naruto's gaze sharpened. "Then why won't you tell me about my parents? Do you think dead people don't matter?"

Hiruzen sighed. "It's not that… I just want you to focus on the people who are here, right in front of you. I've always treated you as my own grandson, Naruto. When the time is right, I'll tell you everything."

"For now, just know that your parents were heroes. They gave their lives to protect this village, and they are buried in the Heroes' Cemetery."

Pausing, Hiruzen softened his voice. "They wanted you to grow up strong, to inherit their will of fire. You should aim to become Hokage."

Naruto blinked, briefly caught off guard. But then, his expression changed. A flicker of light sparked in his eyes.

Hiruzen continued, "I believe in you, Naruto. Once you're strong enough, I'll let you take an early graduation exam. Then, you can work in Anbu under my command. From there, your path to Hokage will be clear."

He patted Naruto's shoulder reassuringly. "So don't worry about your past. Everything I do is for your own good."

Naruto stood frozen, digesting the words. After a moment, he hesitated. "You're not lying this time, right?"

The Third Hokage nodded solemnly.

Later that night, Naruto stood on his balcony, letting the wind brush against his face. He spoke, seemingly to himself—or perhaps to the Nine-Tails sealed within him.

"Nine-Tails… he said, everything is for my own good."

The deep, rumbling voice of Kurama echoed in his mind.

"The old man said that, huh? Foolish brat."

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